What programs are available?

How long is the program?

MS-MLS

total of 36 credit hours. Length of program varies on the number of credit hours taken each semester.

MLS (MT)

16 months Monday through Friday 8 AM to 5 PM. The first ten months the students obtain theory and laboratory skills in the Medical Laboratory Science Department, Schaffer Building in Fort Worth with the last six month practicum experience in area hospital clinic laboratory sites. New classes are admitted in January and July each year.

MLT

15 months variable schedule Monday through Friday 8 AM to 5 PM. New students are admitted to the program each semester. Some of the courses are online for lecture with student lab time and other lectures in the Medical Laboratory Science Department, Schaffer Building in Fort Worth. The number and which days of the week will vary each semester that the students are in class. During the first 12 months of the MLT program, the student attends clinical rotation on Fridays at an area hospital or clinical laboratory site. The final 3 months the student attends a Monday through Thursday clinical rotation at an area hospital or clinical laboratory with practicum exams on Fridays.

HT

12 months. A class is admitted each semester. Students are in the Medical Laboratory Science Department, Schaffer Building in Fort Worth for two days a week for the first half of each of the 3 semesters. For the remainder of each of the semesters, the students are in a hospital laboratory for four days a week. Students who begin in the Fall semester will graduate in August of the next calendar year; ones who begin in the Spring semester will graduate in December of the same year; and ones who begin in the Summer semester will graduate in May of the next calendar year.

What does it cost?

MLS (MT)

Completion of this laboratory professional program requires 48 undergraduate credit hours and 6 graduate credit hours earned in the MLS program at the Fort Worth campus. Tuition is based on the published Tarleton State University fee schedule per credit hour plus additional course and other approved fees and the cost of textbooks.& Current tuition fees may be accessed on the Tarleton web site home page. Students may be eligible for financial aid and/or scholarships and should inquire with the TSU campus office of financial aid and scholarships for details.

MLT

Completion of this laboratory professional program requires 37 undergraduate credit hours earned in the MLT program at the Fort Worth Campus. Tuition is based on the published Tarleton State University fee schedule per credit hour plus additional course and other approved fees and the cost of textbooks. Current tuition fees may be accessed on the Tarleton web site home page. Students may be eligible for financial aid and/or scholarships and should inquire with the TSU campus office of financial aid and scholarships for details.

HT

Completion of this laboratory professional program requires 37 undergraduate credit hours earned in the HT program at the Fort Worth Campus. Tuition is based on the published Tarleton State University fee schedule per credit hour plus additional course and other approved fees and the cost of textbooks. Current tuition fees may be accessed on the Tarleton web site home page. Students may fe eligible for financial aid and/or scholarships and should inquire with the TSU campus office of financial aid and scholarships for details.

Can I get a job in a hospital while going to your program?

MLS (MT), MLT & HT

Because these programs are so rigorous it is not recommend that students work full time. A hospital may hire a student for a few hours per week while rotating in clinic, but it is very unlikely to obtain employment while acquiring your initial theory and lab skills. Both the MLT and HT programs have many of the course lectures online which may allow students the time to work in a part-time job if it is one that allows the student a very flexible work schedule.

I have a BS degree, what else do I need?

MS-MLS

MLS (MT)

Prerequisites include 16 hours of Biology which includes Biology I, Biology II, Microbiology with a lab and immunology (or immunobiology); 16 hours of chemistry which includes Chemistry I, Chemistry II, Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry II (Biochemistry may be substituted for Organic Chemistry II); and 3 hours of college algebra are needed.

HPT

MLT

Prerequisites include 12 hours of biology which must include microbiology and either Biology I & II or Anatomy and Physiology I & II; Chemistry requirements are either 8 hours of chemistry (I & II) or 4 hours of chemistry plus another science or health science elective. Minimum requirements for students with degrees include the same biology and chemistry requirements plus 3 hours of English and 3 hours of Math at College Algebra level or higher. The program is designed for the student to earn an AAS Degree in Medical Laboratory Technology.

HT

If a student has an Associate or Bachelor degree and does not wish to earn the AAS in Histotechnology from Tarleton, they may earn the Advanced Technical Certificate without the degree. Pre-requisites for applicants with a degree are 12 hours of Biology, to include Microbiology, 4 hours of Chemistry, 3 hours of Math and 3 hours of English.

I have been out of school for more than seven years and have a BS degree in biology, or chemistry, what can I do to update?

MS-MLS

Please contact advisor for more information.

MLS (MT)

The Departmental recommendation is to take some graduate classes that are offered in Medical Laboratory Science. Depending on how old your degree is, some undergraduate classes may also be recommended. Contact an advisor in the Medical Laboratory Science Department.

MLT

The Departmental recommendation is to take some undergraduate or graduate courses in biology and chemistry.

HT

The Departmental recommendation is to take some undergraduate or graduate courses in biology and chemistry.

I have an Associate Degree and/or I am MLT(ASCP). I want to get a Bachelor’s degree and get certified MLS(ASCP), what should I do?

MLS (MT)

Send a copy of all transcripts to an advisor who will study them and determine what additional classes will be needed to become eligible to apply to the MLS program.

Can I go part-time?

MLS (MT), MLT & HT

These programs are not designed for part-time.

Can I be completing my last semester of classes during that same semester in which I apply?

MLS (MT), MLT & HT

Yes, many students are in their last semester and are being considered as an applicant to our programs, however, all prerequisites must be completed prior to entry into the program.

Do you place graduates in jobs?

MLS (MT), MLT & HT

No, but our faculty are frequently informed of job openings. Many of our students are hired by the hospital in which they complete their practicum rotations. There is a job board in the Schaffer Building which is frequently updated with newly posted positions. Hospital laboratories from across the United States have traveled to our department to recruit, due to the outstanding reputation of our graduates.

I am an international student and need my transcript evaluated.

MLS (MT) & MLT

We prepare graduates to take the national Board of Certification exam offered by the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP). Therefore, you must get your transcript evaluated by one of the agencies that is on their approved list. This list can be found on the ASCP web site under Evaluation Agencies for Foreign Transcripts.

ASCP will only accept an evaluation from one of the agencies listed. After the transcript is evaluated by one of those agencies, send a readable copy of the full evaluation to an advisor in the Medical Laboratory Science department.& At that time it will be decided what additional classes will be needed in order to be considered as an applicant to one of our programs.

International students will also be required to complete the International Student Requirements of Tarleton State University.